Christmas in Retirement

[Fox]

I don't disagree with most of the above ... we all know that Dec 25th may not be the actual birth date of Christ, but it is the chosen day, and we celebrate it that way.
By the way, gbk wasn't responding to you, but Badenoch's ridiculing of Christian faith.

However, there's parts of what you wrote I would challenge you on ... for instance, the convenience of picking a date like Dec 25th to simply try and sway others to become Christians. You quote Hanukkah, which is a stretch, which is Nov 28 to Dec 6 this year ... go figure. Also, I do find it very strange that the Julian calendar marks the winter solstice on Dec 25th, and not Dec 21st ... clearly, the Aztecs were much more accurate at reading the starts and planetary movements ...

There were many many different celebrations at that time, yes, within the range but it is a heck of a lot better than doing it in April or May, then they would still have their pagan beliefs.

The 25th is actually the date that the Romans used for their winter solstice celebration, I have no idea when Dec 25th was first used for Christmas but it makes sense to me that when the Roman empire converted to Christianity that they would have used this date.

[73hunter]

I'd be happy to drop lengthy nuclear truth bombs regarding matters of Christian theology in another thread, as many are in desperate need of a proper education. It is the season of giving after all.

I simply posted Merry Christmas wishes previously in keeping with the OP's question, and will offer a final post to note the following:

It's interesting to see the vitriol and ignorance from so many on this topic. And by the left's own wacky definitions, wouldn't Christians qualify as an 'identifiable minority group' and therefore be deserving of the protection and praise they reserve for the oppressed? Interesting how a thread discussing the sheer lunacy of men competing in women's sports (and the madness of transgenderism in general) was quickly shut down due to 'discrimination' or lack of 'inclusivity' or being 'unnecessarily provocative', yet this attack on the very foundations of our culture continues unabated.

Proving the point that Christians are the only group you can freely and legally discriminate against.

Checkmate, liberals.

I’m not a religious fella but that was an excellent post. I hate it when people ridicule others for no reason or bring politics into a “feel good” thread.

Why can’t we just all agree that some paid holidays and time with family is a benefit to everyone ?

Those who don’t like it can move to the Middle East.

[mosquito]

There were many many different celebrations at that time, yes, within the range but it is a heck of a lot better than doing it in April or May, then they would still have their pagan beliefs.

The 25th is actually the date that the Romans used for their winter solstice celebration, I have no idea when Dec 25th was first used for Christmas but it makes sense to me that when the Roman empire converted to Christianity that they would have used this date.

Pretty much, there is no record of the exact date from the texts or the letters of the early believers or in the non-canonical writings to my knowledge. There are a significant amounts of writings and references by early leaders like Irenaeus etc. but not on that. Easter can be tied to the Jewish lunar and known historical dates and our calendar is based off the calculations made 6 centuries after the fact and based on recent archaeological evidence year 0 (actual year of birth, isn't actually a 0 AD) is probably around 4 BC.

People are social creations, just look at March 17th and you can see a person from China or India or Egypt etc. wearing green and drinking green beer and knowing nothing of the man Magonus Sochet, his life and teachings. The idea that people felt left out and wanted to celebrate something, but not the pagan celebration, is often credited with the date being chosen. With all the lock downs and government threats and warnings people still get together, go to restaurants even in the Wuhan Pneumonia times.

Looking at history there is just so much ignorance and deliberate delusions and exploitation and abuses of power but that is a long thread onto it's own. The impact of Yeshua (Isa, Ishua, Yesus, Jesus..) teaching is such that even Mahatma Gandhi recognized the impact of Christianity in that his peaceful protests would never have worked against an unChristianized population. Any other group and they likely would have been just cut down and tossed in a hole since to many the value of a life is in its usefulness not in the person themselves.

W.E.H. Lecky (Historian)
"The character of Jesus has not only been the highest pattern of virtue, but the strongest incentive in its practice, and has exerted so deep an influence, that it may be truly said that the simple record of three years of active life has done more to regenerate and to soften mankind than all the disquisitions of philosophers and all the exhortations of moralists."

The study of history and truth takes time and looking, Lee Strobel, Malcolm Muggridge, Josh McDowell, Alister McGrath... all writers that have looked and written on history.

P.S.
Merry Xmas
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/artic...-in-christmas?

http://www.jesuswalk.com/christian-symbols/chi-rho.htm

[Fox]

Pretty much, there is no record of the exact date from the texts or the letters of the early believers or in the non-canonical writings to my knowledge. There are a significant amounts of writings and references by early leaders like Irenaeus etc. but not on that. Easter can be tied to the Jewish lunar and known historical dates and our calendar is based off the calculations made 6 centuries after the fact and based on recent archaeological evidence year 0 (actual year of birth, isn't actually a 0 AD) is probably around 4 BC.

People are social creations, just look at March 17th and you can see a person from China or India or Egypt etc. wearing green and drinking green beer and knowing nothing of the man Magonus Sochet, his life and teachings. The idea that people felt left out and wanted to celebrate something, but not the pagan celebration, is often credited with the date being chosen. With all the lock downs and government threats and warnings people still get together, go to restaurants even in the Wuhan Pneumonia times.

Looking at history there is just so much ignorance and deliberate delusions and exploitation and abuses of power but that is a long thread onto it's own. The impact of Yeshua (Isa, Ishua, Yesus, Jesus..) teaching is such that even Mahatma Gandhi recognized the impact of Christianity in that his peaceful protests would never have worked against an unChristianized population. Any other group and they likely would have been just cut down and tossed in a hole since to many the value of a life is in its usefulness not in the person themselves.

W.E.H. Lecky (Historian)
"The character of Jesus has not only been the highest pattern of virtue, but the strongest incentive in its practice, and has exerted so deep an influence, that it may be truly said that the simple record of three years of active life has done more to regenerate and to soften mankind than all the disquisitions of philosophers and all the exhortations of moralists."

The study of history and truth takes time and looking, Lee Strobel, Malcolm Muggridge, Josh McDowell, Alister McGrath... all writers that have looked and written on history.

P.S.
Merry Xmas
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/artic...-in-christmas?

http://www.jesuswalk.com/christian-symbols/chi-rho.htm

Exactly why the date does not matter, it really does not.

I had someone ask me about Santa and what do you do when your child learns he does not exist. My answer is always, it does not matter if Santa exists but the idea of Santa that is important. Santa does not care about your religion, your status or anything else, Santa is all about Karma , be good and good will come to you in this world, can we ever complain about that.

Yes, Xmas, every damn year I have to explain to members of my family that the X represents Catholicism and was used as code and or a general symbol for Christ ... just leave it alone, Xmas does not take Christ out of it, it is fine, stop complaining, ha ha ha.

[MarkB]

I’m not a religious fella but that was an excellent post. I hate it when people ridicule others for no reason or bring politics into a “feel good” thread.

Why can’t we just all agree that some paid holidays and time with family is a benefit to everyone ?

Those who don’t like it can move to the Middle East.

Exactly our point ... and why we reacted when Badenoch used this subject as an opportunity to ridicule Christians.

[MarkB]

You seem to have your posters mixed up. Bushwacker didn't make the comments that seem to have got your rosary in a knot.

Yes, I just fixed that. Apologies to Bushwacker.

I don't have a rosary by the way ... happy Solstice to you, have you burned your sage yet?

[finsfurfeathers]

Exactly our point ... and why we reacted when Badenoch used this subject as an opportunity to ridicule Christians.

So much for turn the other cheek guess its more an eye for an eye eh?
Going to close this down till admin has a chance to review as gotten out of hand.

[MeghanOOD]

Happy Christmas, Merry Holidays, and all the best to everyone for 2022, however you celebrate. This post has been closed because its content infringes on the Forum guidelines. Stay happy, healthy, and be kind, people.